Bound in Darkness (Bound #2)(26)

Don’t hurt—

She stepped back, ducked, then shoved her fist right at the wolf’s heart. Her punch threw Mike back against Jace.

Jace grabbed the wolf and twisted him around. He lifted the other guy off the floor and glared at him. “I don’t remember giving you permission to attack, Mike.”

He heard the vamp’s breaths panting lightly and knew she wasn’t as controlled as she appeared. No scent of fear, not yet.

“B-bloodsucker…comin’ in here…” Mike snarled. “She can’t just…walk in…”

“I was invited here,” she said smoothly.

Still trapped in Jace’s grip, Mike twisted and glared over his shoulder. “Who the hell…would be dumb enough to invite a vampire here—”

“Your alpha.” Her answer came with a shrug as her gaze lifted back to Jace. Then she inclined her head in the smallest of subservient gestures. Submission. “I was told of your offer, and I’m here to accept.”

Mike’s head swung back toward him. “Jace?” His voice was stronger now. Wolves always healed fast. “What bullshit is she talking about?”

Jace slammed his forehead into Mike’s nose. Bones crunched and blood spurted even as the smaller wolf howled. Then Jace threw the guy against the nearest wall, one that was about fifteen feet away. When Mike crashed, he didn’t get up.

Silence. So thick it covered the whole bar. Jace stared at the vamp, trying to keep all emotion from his face. Then, slowly, he closed the remaining space between him and the woman who was going to change everything for him.

He caught her hand and turned her palm over. Hell, yes, the mark was there, cradled inside her left hand. Just like he’d known it would be. A blood-red rose.

He stood close enough to see the circle of gold in her eyes. The faint gold that marked her just as her hand did. She was something far more than an ordinary bloodsucker.

She was a vampire princess. His key to power, immortality, and she was the perfect weapon that he needed to kick the ass of the demons who’d come to town looking to wipe out his people.

Her lips parted as she stared up at him. He glimpsed her deceptively delicate fangs.

And he caught the scent of fear as it swept through her.

She was right to be afraid. Now that she was there, within his grasp, and he’d never let her go.

Never.

“I’m Jace.” He let her see his own fangs. “And you’re mine.” A claim made before all the wolves in the room. From now on, any wolf who touched her would face him—and death.

She swallowed and tilted her head back to better meet his stare. “Hello, husband.”

The wolf within growled…Mine.

BOUND BY BLOOD—Available now for 99￠





And Cynthia Eden’s next full-length paranormal romance novel, ANGEL OF DARKNESS, will take readers into a world of dangerous, sexy fallen angels…and vampires.

Excerpt from Angel of Darkness (Available in print and e-book from Kensington Brava, November 29, 2011):

“Who are you?” she asked him, her face showing no hint of fear.

“I’m someone who’s been looking for you.” True enough. “For a very long time.”

She gave a little shrug. “And here it is, your lucky night. Looks like you found me.”

No, he hadn’t found the woman he’d expected.

“So what are you going to do now?” She murmured as she walked closer to him. The moonlight spilled onto her face. His eyes narrowed. Her face that seemed a little thinner. Her cheekbones were more defined. Her eyes were still as wide and dark, but her lips appeared redder and plumper than before. The woman was still beautiful, no doubt, but…a darkness seemed to cling to her.

Her body was as slender as he remembered. Her breasts still round and firm and her hips—no. He shouldn’t be noticing that. Her body didn’t matter.

“Like what you see?” She whispered and her slow drawling voice sounded like…

Temptation.

He backed up a step.

One black brow lifted. “Now, surely, you aren’t afraid of me.”

“I fear nothing.” After what he’d seen, what he’d done, there was simply nothing left to stir fear in his heart.

“Good for you,” she muttered and the words didn’t seem sexy. More…annoyed then. But then she blinked and the heavy-lidded mask came back. “Tell me how you know my name.”

She was almost close enough to touch right now, but he wouldn’t touch her. No, he never touched. Touching was far too dangerous.

You didn’t touch unless you were ready to kill. He wasn’t ready…yet.

“I’ve known your name for a long time.” No sense lying. Besides, lies weren’t possible for his kind. “Ever since you were put on my list.”

He heard the hard inhale of her breath.

“L-list?” Now there was fear flickering in her eyes. Her voice hardened as she said, “You’re one of them.”

“Them?” Curiosity stirred within him.

“A hunter.” Her bow lips tightened in distaste when she spoke the term.

But she was right. Now he was a hunter and she was his prey.

“I haven’t done anything wrong! I haven’t killed anyone—not since—” She broke off and tears filled her gaze. “I thought if I didn’t hurt anyone else, you were just supposed to leave me alone.”